After a career spent travelling around the world, Scot Slessor is bringing his passion for teaching glass art, home to Liverpool.

The former Canadian diplomat served in China, Cambodia, Brunei, India, Jordan, Afghanistan and Thailand and has opened a studio across from the Astor Theatre.

Slessor works in warm glass slumping, painting, kiln carving, casting among other methods but doesn’t blow glass.

He says moving his equipment to far flung locations throughout his career has sparked some interesting discussions.

“You can just imagine it was already weird enough when I was showing up to one of our embassies and I tell them I’m bringing a kiln," said Slessor. "They would inevitably write back and say, sir, I think there’s a problem, there’s a typo in the list. It says you’re bringing a kiln and I would say that’s right, I am. But you should be thankful I’m not bringing a furnace. And they go, oh, yeah, you’re right, we’ll make this work.”

Just as he has done around the world, Slessor wants to share his knowledge of glass art with budding and aspiring artists in Queens.

He’s not in it for the money and has offered the opportunity to learn and create pieces at cost for many non-profit organizations.

All funds raised through SAS Glass are used to make more creations, support NGOs and train artists in locations where glass art is undeveloped or non-existent.

Slessor’s passion for glass art is contagious and he hopes to inspire more people to try their hand at it.

“Every kid likes to melt stuff, and this is like the next level of, ooh, let’s melt that and see what it looks like," said Slessor.

Residents of Liverpool may see Slessor coming and going as he establishes his studio located in the space formally occupied by Primrose Computers.

The first real opportunity the public will have to view his work will be when he puts it on display during Christmas on the Mersey on December 3.

In the meantime, a quick trip to his website sasglass.ca will provide a look at his art as well as information about his process and how to sign up for lessons.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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